Here's how you can set boundaries in your professional life using assertiveness.

Das Erkennen der eigenen Bedürfnisse ist nicht nur der erste Schritt um Grenzen zu setzen, sondern die Grundlage für eine offene und konstruktive Kommunikation mit seinen beruflichen und privaten Gesprächspartnern. Denn ohne seine persönlichen und beruflichen Bedürfnisse zu kennen, sind wir und unser Umfeld nicht in der Lage situationsgerecht zu kommunizieren. Dies führt auf Dauer zu eklatanten Missverständnissen.

Sind wir uns unserer Bedürfnisse bewusst, erhalten wir Zugang zu unserem Innersten und befreien uns von Schuldzuweisungen nach außen. Jetzt geht es nicht mehr um Schuld, sondern nur noch um eine bedürfnisorientierte Kommunikation, die weder Opfer noch Täter kennt.

Staying consistent with boundary setting can take on two forms in my experience. The first form is, ensuring that your words and actions line up. If you set a boundary and then act in opposition to the established boundary it creates confusion and signals that you may not uphold your boundary going forward. The second form of consistency in boundaries is thinking of setting boundaries as a game of tennis. Just like you serve the ball multiple times in a game of tennis you may also have to set a boundary multiple times before it sets in for the person on the receiving end of the boundary. The key is to keep the boundary and messaging consistent with each "serve."

Statt everybodys darling sein zu wollen, führt Konsistenz zu einer Stärkung des Selbstwertgefühls. Sobald wir uns unseres Selbstwerts bewusst sind, strahlen wir diesen Selbstwert auch aus. Das tut nicht nur uns gut, sondern erleichtert auch unserem Umfeld den Umgang mit uns. Jetzt weiß jeder, woran er mit uns ist.

Confidence and assertiveness are closely intertwined. The secret to mastering assertiveness is maintaining respect and kindness throughout your interactions. This includes showing kindness and respect towards yourself by establishing the necessary boundaries for your well-being. Remember, assertiveness isn't the same as aggression. It's entirely possible to stand firm and advocate for yourself while also considering the needs of others.

In my experience, only about 30-40% of the population might be considered "assertive". For the rest of us, creating strong boundaries by being assertive is a challenge! In addition to working on confidence and communication techniques, it may be helpful to know the tendencies and energies of whomever you are speaking to. Are they assertive? not assertive? reactive? do they have trouble setting boundaries too..? When you can match/mirror the energies of others, it's like you are speaking their language - boundaries will then be a lot easier to set and maintain.

Practicing assertiveness begins with self-awareness and self-respect. It's about understanding your values, knowing what you're willing to accept, and communicating these boundaries with clarity and professionalism. In my experience, one effective strategy is using "I" statements to express your needs and preferences assertively without blaming or accusing others. For example, "I need uninterrupted time in the mornings to focus on project deadlines" sets a clear boundary while respecting both your needs and your colleagues'. Despite your assertiveness, boundaries may be tested. Be ready to set consequences (when appropriate) if they're consistently disregarded, such as redirecting tasks or renegotiating deadlines as needed.